A very potent Alberta low pressure system dropped heavy snow in New Castle and Kent Counties and a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain in Sussex County. Snow began falling throughout the state during the late morning of the 22nd. In Sussex County, the snow changed to freezing rain inland and rain at the coast during the afternoon. Precipitation then changed back to snow before it ended during the evening. Farther north, the heaviest snow fell during the afternoon, but lighter (and still accumulating) snow fell into the morning of the 23rd. Accumulations ranged from around 1 inch along coastal Sussex County to nearly 10 inches in northern New Castle County. Around 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice accrued on exposed surfaces in interior Sussex County and caused power outages as tree limbs and power lines came down. Gusty northwest winds which followed in the wake of the storm caused considerable drifting snow and hampered road crews efforts as drifts continued to form on roads through the night of the 23rd. More than 160 accidents occurred across the state on the 22nd, many during the first hour of snowfall. In New Castle County, about 40 motorists became stranded on the 22nd. The only reported fatal accident occurred in Sussex County (near Milton) on the morning of the 23rd when a 48-year-old man died after the car he was driving slid on a patch of ice and overturned.  Delaware Emergency Management and local police recommended that only essential personnel travel. Most businesses closed early on the 22nd in New Castle County. Even New Castle County Airport closed early. Many sporting, community events and church services were cancelled. Many businesses never opened on Sunday the 23rd. The icy roads and strong winds hampered firefighters fighting a blaze in Bethany Beach. One firefighter was injured after slipping on the ice. Another fire destroyed a shed in Dagsboro as a wood stove was placed too close to combustibles. About 1,700 homes and businesses in Sussex County lost power because of downed tree limbs and wires.  On the 24th, the Delaware Department of Transportation recommended businesses, schools and government offices consider opening late or not at all. Many schools were closed on the 24th. In Sussex County, many schools were also closed on the 25th as roads remained icy from the freezing rain. Specific snowfall accumulations 9.5 inches in Hockessin (New Castle County), 9.0 inches in Middletown (New Castle County), 8.4 inches at the New Castle County Airport, 8.3 inches in Newark (New Castle County), 7.0 inches in Woodside (Kent County), 6.8 inches in Dover (Kent County), 5.0 inches in Milford (Kent County), 4.0 inches in Greenwood (Sussex County), 3.0 inches in Georgetown (Sussex County) and 2.0 inches in Bethany Beach (Sussex County). The winter storm was caused by a very powerful Alberta low pressure system. This type of low rarely produce snowfalls of this intensity. This low moved southeast from eastern Montana on the morning of the 21st to southern Minnesota on the evening of the 21st to near Dayton, Ohio around sunrise on the 22nd. It then moved to just south of Erie, Pennsylvania on the afternoon of the 22nd. A secondary low pressure system was forming over the lower Chesapeake Bay on the afternoon of the 22nd. It would become the main low over the next twelve hours as it moved northeast over the Atlantic Ocean. It deepened quickly as it passed near the Nantucket, Massachusetts buoy at 7 a.m. EST on the 23rd.

Winter Storm in INLAND SUSSEX, DELAWARE
From 22-JAN-05 09:00:00 to 22-JAN-05 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Winter Storm in KENT, DELAWARE
From 22-JAN-05 09:00:00 to 23-JAN-05 08:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Winter Storm in NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE
From 22-JAN-05 09:00:00 to 23-JAN-05 11:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Winter Weather in DELAWARE BEACHES, DELAWARE
From 22-JAN-05 11:00:00 to 22-JAN-05 15:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER